Serm. CXCV. eternal Life, And that our Saviour doth apply this Proverb of theyews to a higher purpofe, namely, to eternal life, is plain , from what he adds in the verfe after theText, Forthe Son of Man (hall come in the glory ofhis Father , with his Angels and then he fball reward every yman according to his works ; that is, there is another life after this, wherein men (hall be happyor miferable according as theyhave behaved them- felves in this world , and then it will appear who have made the bell bargain, and who at laft will prove the greateft gainers, theywho by following me have hazard- ed this temporal life, and receive in lieuof it life eternal ; or they who by deny- ing me, have fecured their temporal lives, but forfeited the eternal life and happi- nefs of the nextWorld. So that the meaning and force of our Saviour's argument is plainly this What advantage would it be to any man, if he couldgain the whole world, and fhould be ruin'd for ever? or what would a man, that, had brought himfelf into this min ferable condition, give to redeem and refcue himfelf out of it ? And that this is plainly our Saviour's meaning, will appear, if we confider how St. Luke expreffeth the fame thing, Luke9.25. What is a man advantaged, if be gain the whole world , and lofe bimfelf, andbe call away ? So that the emphafis and forceof our Saviour's argument, is not to be laid upon the wordSoul, as our Tranflators feem to have laid it ; for St. Luke hath omitted this word : but it lies in the application of thisproverbial Speech , which the yews ufed concerning this temporal life, to life eternal ? Having thus cleared the true meaning and intention of thefe words , I (hall con- fider in them, what may be moft ufeful for us to fix our thoughts and meditations npon. In thefe words we have two Cafes fuppofed, and a Qpeftion put upon each of them. Firfl, Suppofe a man fhoüld gain thewholeWorld, and ruin himfelf for ever, what would be the advantage of it ? What it a man profited, ifhe gain the whole world, and lofe himfelf? Secondly, Suppofe a man had made fuch a bargain, and undone himfelf for ever, to gain the world ; when he comes to be fenfibleof his folly, what would he not give to undo this bargain ? What will a mangive in exchangefor bis Soul? that is, to redeem and recover what he hath loft. And indeed thefe Queftions carry their own anfwer and refolution in them. Sup- pofe aman fhould gain the whole world, and ruin himfelffor ever, what advan- tage would it be to him ? would it beany? No, certainlyvery far from it ; for the words area flehogis,..and fignifie more than they feem to exprefs; What is a man profited? that is, he would be fo far frombeing a gainer, that he would be a valt lofer by it. And fuppofe a man had made fuch a bargain , had thus undone himfelf to gain theworld, would he not refleft feverely upon his own folly afterward? Yes certainly, he would give thewhole world, ifhe had it, to undo it again. So that the fenfe ofthefe words maybe refolved into thefe two Propofitions. Firfl, That it is a foolifhbargain for a man to lofe hisSoul, and forfeit his eternal happinefs, upon any terms, tho' it were to gain the whole world. Secondly, That whoever makes this bargain, will one time or other fadly rue and be fenfible of themonftrous follyofit. What wouldamangive in exchangefor his Soul ? that is, what would he not give tobe put in his former condition, and be left tomake a new choice ? Firfl, That it would be a moft foolilh bargain, for a man to purchafe the whole world with the lofs ofhis Soul, and his eternal happinefs. The folly of this one would think fufficiently evident at firft fight; yet we fee men every day guilty of it, fo that either they do not difcern it, or they do not confider it; therefore to make men fenfible of their monftrous follyherein, we will confider thefe two things I. How inconfiderable the Purchafe is. And, Il. How great a Price is paid for it. , For that is afoolifh bargain, when we pay a great deal too much for a thing, a mighty Price for that which is littleworth. I. Tile 629
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